to keep under our bodies, and bring them into subjection. We ougbt to be on our guard, like soldiers in an enemy's country. We ought to fight a daily battle, and war a daily warfare. The command of our Master is clear and plain : " If any man will come after Me, let him 'deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."
Now what do we know of all this ? Surely this is a question which ought to be asked. A little formal church-going, and a decent attendance at a place of worship, can never be the Christianity of which Christ speaks in this place. — Where is our self-denial ? Where is our daily carrying of the cross ? Where is our fol- lowing of Christ ? — Without a religion of this kind we shall never be saved. A crucified Saviour will never be content to have a self-pleasing, self-indulging, worldly- minded people. No self-denial — no real grace ! No cross —-no crown ! " They that are Christ's," says St. Paul, " have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts." (Gal. V. 24.) " Whosoever will save his life," says the Lord Jesus, " shall lose it ; but whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall save it."
We learn, for another thing, from our Lord's words'in this passage, the unspeakable value of the soul, A ques- tion is asked, which admits of only one answer — " What is a man advantaged if he gain the whole world and lose himself, or be cast away."
The possession of the whole world, and all that it contains, would never make a man happy. Its pleasures are false and deceptive. Its riches, rank, and honours, have no power to satisfy the heart. So long as we have not got them they glitter, and sparkle, and seem desir-